Digital Strategies in Lao PDR

1by:
Ms. Kittisack PASOMSOUK
Deputy Director of Division, Digital Government Center
Ministry of Technology and Communications, Lao PDR
December 2023

Table of Contents

2

01

02

ICT andTelecommunicationsin Lao PDR

DigitalTransformation inLao PDR

03

Digital Policy in
Lao PDR04

Way forwards

ICT and Telecommunications in Lao PDR

1

2009-2011: Authority of Post and Telecommunications,
Under Prime Minister Office2

2011-2021: Ministry of Post andTelecommunications

Ministry of Technology andCommunications (MTC)32021- present: Ministry of Technology andCommunications (MTC)
Function as Policy Maker and Regulator in chargeof Post, Telecommunications and ICT related
development

4

ICT and Telecommunications in Lao PDR▪ Organization Structure of Ministry of Technology and Communications (MTC)
MinisterVice Minister

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Vice Minister

Cabinet Office
Department of Personnel
Department of Inspection
Department of Planning and FinanceDigital Government Center
Department of Radio Frequency
Department of Technology and Innovation
Department of Post
Department of Cyber Security

Vice Minister

10. Department of DigitalTechnology
11. Lao National Internet Center
12. Technology Promotion andTransfer Center
13. Institute of Information andCommunication Technology
14. Applied Research Institute ofSmart Technology
15. Prime of Minister Office

15 departments and 18 province divisions

5ICT and Telecommunications in Lao PDR

7 Divisions

6ICT and Telecommunications in Lao PDRICT and Telecommunications in Lao PDR▪ Lao Digital Landscape
Population

Mobile User

Internet User

FTTH

Mobile Internet

7.3 M

7 M (96%)

4.6 M (63%)

15.1 K

4.45 M

Household with PC.Gov.la web

2.15 M

315

8ICT and Telecommunications in Lao PDR▪ Telecom company in Lao PDR

Table of Contents

90102

ICT andTelecommunicationsin Lao PDR

DigitalTransformation inLao PDR03

Digital Policy inLao PDR

04

Way forwards

10Digital Transformation in Lao PDR
Government Decree on national digital transformation committee of Lao PDR
1The Prime Minister of Lao PDR

Chair

2

The vice-prime minister, minister of ministry of defense,
chaired of the national internet governance committee

Co-chair3

The vice-prime minister, minister of ministry of foreign
affairCo-chair

4

The minister, ministry of technology and communications

Co-chair

5

17 Ministries

Committee

11

Digital Service Development in Lao PDR▪ Government field

Digital Government Center has
developed various app since 2017

12Digital Service Development in Lao PDR▪ Society13Digital Service Development in Lao PDR▪ Society

Taxi App

Express services

Food delivery

Table of Contents

1401

02

ICT andTelecommunicationsin Lao PDR

DigitalTransformation inLao PDR

03

Digital Policy in
Lao PDR04

Way forwards

15

Digital Policy in Lao PDR▪ Digital Maturity Assessment – Laos PDR

In 2021-2022 Digital Government
in collaboration with internationalorganization to conduct research:• World Bank| Positioning theLao PDR for a Digital Future• UNDP | Digital Maturity
Assessment: Lao PDRModel to be used for DMA

Pillars

Skills & Capacity Building

Institutional Framework &Collaboration• ICT/Digital literacy andemployment• Digital workforce and skills• Learning and Development
(L&D)

••
•
•

Technology & Solutions
••

•
•
•

Digital Infrastructure &Connectivity
Architecture, Standards andInteroperability
Data Management
Innovation Ecosystem
E-services and Emerging
Solutions

Policy & Regulations• Regulatory frameworks,
legislations and policies for:o Cybersecurityo E-commerceo Data standards and protectiono Digital identity and signatureo International co-operationo Innovation

Focus AreaDigitalMaturity
Assessment
(DMA)

•

Executive sponsorship
Institutional structure and roles
Funding and budgeting
Cross-government platforms,
coordination and data sharing
Collaboration with Industry /Academia / Donor Agencies

Service Definition andDelivery
•
••
•
•

Digital service initiatives
Digital public services
standards
Projects planning and Delivery
approach
Procurement solution & services
Monitoring & evaluation

User-centricity• User Experience and DesignThinking• Inclusivity and Localization• Communication and awareness• E-Participation and User Adoption

17

Digital Policy in Lao PDR
Digital Signature Law

Law on Electronic Transaction

Drafting a Digital

ICT Policy anddevelopment

2009
2009

Digital Economy
Masterplan

Law on ICT

2011

2013

2015

Law on Telecommunication
Cyber Crime Law2016201720182020

2021

Data Protection
Law

Master Plan

2022

2023

Decree DigitalGovernment Decree
Decree on Telecom
Transmission

18

Digital Policy in Lao PDR▪ Policies drafting

20-Year National Digital Economy Development
Visions (2021-2040),
10-Year National Digital Economy Development
Strategies (2021-2030)
and 5-Year National Digital Economy
Development Plans (2021-2025)

Digital Government Master Plan (Draft)
Digital Health Strategy (Draft)

ICT Strategy of Land Management (Draft)
Other Sector

19

Digital Policy in Lao PDR▪ Next stepo Develop Digital Government Standardo National Government Enterprise Architecture Framework/ eGov
Interoperability Framework (eGIF)o Improve Government Networko National digital ID
o Digital signatureo Develop of National E-Portalo Data sharing platformo Etc.

Table of Contents

20

01

02

ICT andTelecommunicationsin Lao PDR

DigitalTransformation inLao PDR

03

Digital Policy in
Lao PDR04

Way forwards

21

Way forwards
High-speed, high-quality broadband
is a pre- requisite for digitaltransformation and improving access tohigh-speed internet in Laos will require
a combination of regulatory incentives
and investments.

02

Consider implementing user-centric
design and incentivizing citizen
engagement in public services…
such as GovStack

Digital skills training in Technicaland Vocational Education andTraining (TVET) and Non-formal
education will need to become a key
part of the curricula.

03

Ppromote the use of digital to local
government, business and citizen.
Ensure the smooth transition fromanalogy government to digital
government

22

Digital Government
Future plan
Promote and use ofe-services

02

03• Development of D-Gov Index• Dissemination of DGOV decree• Digital Government Masterplan 2023

• Promote the use of e-services(G2G) to local authority• D-Gov Network expansion• Development of Capacity
Building on G2B and G2C
services to support Businessand citizen• Digital Data Gov, Open Gov Data

• Government Data Exchange (GDX)• National Digital ID• D- Government standard framework• E-Portal, Gov Super App• Digital Services (G2G, G2B, G2C)

23Thank you!